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SFXOiXD EDITION 

REVISED 



A SHORT AND PLAIN EXPLANATION 



OF . 



FARMLR MILES' METHODS 



. . OF 




B 




AND AFTER TREATMENT 

WHEN NECKSSARY 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 



By farmer miles 
charleston, ill. 

U. S. A. 



ll 



1898 



9843 



COPYRIGHTED BY 

'FARMER" T. C. MILES 

Washington, D. C. 

1898 









)''' 



PREFACE 



In boyhood I had a natural fondness for animal snroery. 
My father being a physician, I naturally acquired, through 
him, more or less knowledge in that line. I moved from 
Kentucky to lUinois in 1846, where I had a large farm and 
was raising all kinds of sto:k. There being no veterinarys 
near, I was compelled to frequently use the knife, first for 
myself, then for my neighbors. In tho.se early frontier days 
here in Illinois neighbor helped neighbor, and I appeared 
to be the one always called upon to do the surgery, until 
so much practice gave me a reputation second to no one 
living near. Then ridgling horses were almost worth- 
less, and my neighbors would sometimes ask me to "cut or 
kill them." I always did one thing, and sometimes both, 
but free of all charge. In thus experimenting, I obtained 
a reputation thirty years ago, which caused me to .stop 
farming and travel most of the time, in answer to calls, over 
this country, from Maine to California. I also spent one 
year on the other side of the Atlantic, in England, Ireland 
and Scotland, where I performed many operations in ani- 
mal surgery in 1878. 

This little book is intended as an expose of my favorite 
methods, ropes, instruments, and after treatment. I have 
tried to make it plain, and truthful, as well as helpful, to 
all castraters and farmers. Trusting it will be a benefit to 
many thousands of owners, and a mercj' to ^T stock yet to 
be castrated, I am Yours truly. 

Farmer Mile.s. 



EXPLANATION 

About twenty-five years ago I wrote a pamphlet on Cas- 
tration and Spaying stock, and soon sold out all I had 
at $5 a copy. In 1877 I was invited to England by Geo, 
Fleming, V. S. of the Queen's Life Guard and a noted 
V. S. writer. I went iti 1878, to .stay one month only, 
but stayed one year, castrating in all portions of Eiogland. 
Soon after my return, many students wanted to learn my 
methods, in my specialt}'. and followed me around, and 
wanted n:e to go with them to different places, which did 
not work well. 

Several years later I prepared myself to teach my meth- 
ods to classes, ten days in each April, heie at my home, on 
the royalty plan, every pupil giving me a bond, .signed by 
two responsible .securities, that they would pay me my 
small loyalty (my only fee for instructions) monthly for ten 
years. For some time previous to the time for my annual 
classes I advertised in six or eight counties adjoining my 
home, for farmers, stockmen and friends to bring in their 
stock, and I would do all their work free, in that ten days, 
so I would have plent}^ of work during that time, to show 
and explain my methods fully to my pupils. In six years 
I fully in.structed 120 men, only twelve of whom have prov- 
en honest regarding the payment of the royalty. I did not 
like to induce men to lie, so discontinued that method. I 
then thought best to print a complete expo.se of my methods, 
ropes, and instruments, and take the book to England to 
sell at $25 a copy, as that was what they paid me for every 



ridgliiig I cut over there, seventeen years before. I sold 
some of the books at tliat price, but found the price too high, 
and later sold them at Sio each. 

Experience has taught me the necessity of many essen- 
tial improvements, and I have consequently revi.sed that 
English edition, leaving out a little, and putting in more of 
better and later methods, learned by actual experience since 
the publication of the English edition, adding new illustra- 
tions, so you will more fully know how I do, and fully under- 
stand ni}' remarks and advice to you. This revised book will 
cost you only S2, and after 50U have read it through five or 
six times and prove yourselt a competent workman, you can 
sell the book for $2 to some friend in another county, and 
help the country along, in a humane and much improved 
method of castration, and spaying of all stock, and dogs and 
introduce ray string Ecraseur, that you can make and use. 




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ANIMAL CASTRATION 



I commenced the castration of stock in 1850, without 
books, teacher or theory, not thinking then, or for years af- 
ter, that I would ever leave my immediate neighborhood on 
such business, but I now think I have traveled over more 
territory in this buNiness, than any ten castraters I ever 
heard of. and I have tried all known me'hods worth consid- 
ering. I have had the counsel and advice of some of the 
best M. D's at all times. I have liked the business more 
and more, even so much as to neglect my farming entirely, 
and have given all ni}' time and attention to it. I got the prize 
at our Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, Sept. 14, 1S76 
as the best casirater of ridgling horses in the U. S. I do not 
claim to know it all, but do claim to be in good practice, and 
to do «.ver\ operation the best I can, which is usually satis- 
factory to all parties concerned. 




THE. NOSE TWITCH. 

First, I like a nose-twitch in horse surgery better than 
chloroform or ether. The best twtch I get is made of a 
.spoke out ot a buggy wheel, about sixteen inches long, and' 
flattened at the small end. The loop at the large end of the 
twitch should be oi one-half inch cotton, (or flax rope, flax 



is best) spliced in thirteen inches long, and a large twine 
string, three feet long, should be fastened in the middle to 
the small end of twitch, like the cut of the twitch. 

I have never seen but three or four horses that I could 
not get the twitch on while standing. The twitch loop 
should be over the left wrist; then gently grasp all of the 
upper lip you can, with left hand and, with a slow move- 
ment, twist the twitch until it binds the nose lightly; then, 
with both hands on the twitch, turn sUnvly, still tighter, 
until the colt raises his head and winks his eye, then stop 
and turn the small end of the twitch slowly up beside the 
halter and tie it there, with the long strings on the small 
end of the twitch, in a bow-knot in No. 4. Now ask the 
man that is to hold the colt's head while casting him, 
''Please Sir, do not touch the twitch until we are through 
operating on this horse, or colt." 

In common castration of colts and stalHons, I tried all 
the different methods known I could think of. I have made 
a choice of all methods for my own use, and this little book 
is intended as a full expose and explanation of my present 
methods and practice. To meet a demand for my printed 
methods, my ropes and instruments are shown, so as to 
more fully explain my use of them. 

I will now speak of colt or common castration in a gen- 
eral way. First halter the colt with a leather head-halter, 
and have a one-half inch rope twelve feet long, to tie in the 
halter ring beside the other strap. I call it the chin rope, 
on the halter; now take a half hitch on the under jaw with the 
rope, and push the lips in under the rope; next, put on the 
nose-twitch, as above described and shown best in cut No. 
4 and tied to the halter properly. Then nearly every colt 



will stand still. Have two knee ropes ^ inch seven feet long-. 
Have one ^ inch surcingle rope seven feet long, tie a three 
inch iron ring in one end of surcingle, and gently slip it 
over his back, and tie it good. Take one knee rope seven 
feet long, tie the ends together and loop it in the middle un- 
der the belly, on this surcingle, it belongs there all the time, 
for several reasons I will give you later on. Cut i shows a 
grown horse, with his right foot looped up, by that knee rope, 
being wrapped around his right ankle two or three times, 
sulking, because the twitch is on just right, and he don't 
seem to care whether he is up or down, now if all three men 
pull firmly and slow, I think he wnll lie down himself I 
know he will, if the castrator will turn his nose around to 
the left side and say pull, I like to let him put his knee 
down first and turn over as in cut 5, without a struggle. 
Now having first looped one knee rope seven feet long, in 
the middle, loop it, about twenty inches from the three inch 
ring on the circingle, so as to hang down loose under 
the belly, for after service, now put on the circingle, as 
cut I shows and tie it good, then put the chin rope 
through the ring on his side over the back; now 
one man should hold that rope loosely, ready to pull, 
when told to pull; and hold his nose back on his side 
when down, as .shown in cut 3, put a short hobble on each 
hind ankle, and two on right fore ankle; one above and one 
below the joint as cut i shows; then the back rope around 
the left fore leg above the pa.stern, running it through the 
rings as described in the cut i, like a thread through four 
needle-, first the lower ring on the right front ankle, then 
through ring on right hind ankle, then through the ring 
on the left hind ankle, then through ring at right front 

— 9 — 



ankle above the pastern, and draw all up snug on tlie left 
side, lastly, before casting, have the man holding the hal- 
ter rop- from the half hitch, in the mouth, through the ring 
and o\er the back, lift the right fore foot, and wrap the 
knee rope around it several times, (as cut i shows him on 
three legs only). The castrater should gently turn his 

FOUR HOBBLES 








THIRTEEN INCHES LOXG INSIDE. 




BACK KOPE SIXTEEN F]^hT LONG. 

horss'snose around to his left side, and say, "pull gently 
and hold tight," and down he must go easily as in cut 5, 
and should lie there quietly. Then I take the chin 
rope and run it through the lower part of the halter and 
back through ring on circingle and ask some man to lift 
his head back on his side and I pull my halter rope tight; 
confining his head as in cut 3 but want a man to hold 
that rope. Now I takj the back rope as we call it, that 
the two men now hold, in cut 5, and step forward, 
and put the back rope under and around the lower hind 
atikle snugly without jerking, then walk behind to the 
horse's rump or loin holding 10 pounds pressure all 
the time, and ask. some one to lift 50 pounds up by the tail, 

— 10 — 



while I try to draw that rope un:lerthe hip, and also draw 
the under hind foot near his bill}' and hold it there, and 
ask some one "won't you please put this long end over his 
upper hind foot and giv^enie back the end.?" I then draw 
it tight as I can conveniently, and say "men let's turn him 
upon his back" (as in cut 6,) except the head should be tied 
tight to his left side, as cut 3 shows it now, by chin rope 
and halter; now this man at the head in cut 6 does no 
good, tie that nose around tight to his leit side and he 
will lie still, comparatively; now the four men chock 
the horse on his back with their feet under him, toes 
they must not push . against each other, but hold 

his knees, and hocks and pull the horse tight on their own 
feet, as chocks, that is right, so iar, now let's tie him so 
that he cannot hurt himself or anybody else. I don't like 
to bind a horse very tight, when we first turned him up on 
his back, his r ght hind foot may have been too loose; if 
so bear that foot down gently, and draw the back rope 
tighter slowly under him; don't jerk or he will struggle; 
that is horse nature; take up your slack on his left hind foot 
to match it, and wrap your rope around twice, and take one 
halt hitch and ask a helper to hold it so it wont slip; now 
unwrap the knee rope from the right fore foot, and loop it 
over both hind feet, that ties his hind feet to his belly cir- 
cingle forward, and the back rope ties them to his hips, and 
leaves his back out of all danger of hurt or strain. 

My advice to all new beginners is to get a colt out on a 
good place, cast and lie him several times. Learn the A, B, 
C of castration before you attempt any surgery. Almost 
every man that attempts colt castration soon gets conceited 
and thinks himself an expert, when in fact he is liable to do 

— 11 — 



es I 




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wrong. But let us suppose our colt is now cast skillfully and 
tied slowly and safely, ano held firmly on his back by our 
assistants. If the bag, or scrotum, testicles and all are down 
well, then with the elbow forward between the hind feet 
grasp one seed at a time in the left hand, and with a knife, 
or hook, which is my preference, 
split the bag over the extreme 
hind part of the seed one inch 
long into the water, then intro- 
duce the hook No. i here de- 
scribed — all other blades shut — 
and push forward to the point 
you wish to split to; or repeat, 
to cut enough forward; then turn 
the point of hook upward, and 
with one gentle pull split the 
fekiii and tunic, and that will ex- 
pose the testicle. Then do the 
other the same way, about one 
inch on each side of the septum 
or raphe three inches long well 
forward. But if the seeds are 
small and are not well down, and 
are hard to grasp with the left 
hand, grasp the sheath two inches 
behind the front end and push it 
forward tightly. Then place your 
hook where you want the front end of the gash, and slowly 
pull back, with your hand raised a little after the hook enters 
the skin, and the front end will slide along just under the 
skin and you will not cut deeper than the skin, nor cut into 

— 13 — 




large veins just below, and repeat on the other side. Each 
incision three inches long. Now both testicles are exposed 
with (tunic) or striffin on. Split the tunic and lift the seeds 
up well. I pull up about two pounds on the average year- 
ling and three or four pounds on the average stallion on 
each seed, so as to get well up on the cords. The best way 
1 think, is to use a good ecrasure and the hook knife to get 
the testicles exposed, then grasp them both in the left hand 
at the same time, through the chain of your ecrasure and 
lift up about three pounds on a large yearling or six pounds 
on a large stallion. Then with the right hand adjust your 
chain several inches up on the bloody cord (spermatic cord ) 
and attachments but always square across, and sometimes 
over the exposed ends of the tunic, which is not wrong, if 
you like, but always, after closing the chain, you can cut two 
inches of the tunic off, it has no blood in it, over one or 
both testicles, and around both cords at once, hold now with 
the ecraseur in the right hand. Now, take the two large 
cords, one at a time, in your left hand, and draw them one 
inch or more through the chain, so as to shorten them still 
more. Now see that no skin or extra tissue is caught un- 
der the chain; then change hands by grasping the ecraseur 
near the front end with the left hand, with the thumb rest- 
ing firmly upon the chain and loop, in the ecaseur, then 
with the right hand quickly take up all slack in the chain 
and tighten it some, enough to bite it half off, then loosen your 
chain and drop towards the seed one-half inch, and put on 
your chain tight now, then with the left hard grasp the 
middle of the ecraseur over the handle to better hold it, as 
you should; then grasp the gimlet handle in the right 
hand, and turn until one or both cords are severed, which 

— 14 — 




one or both cords are liable to do. But. in case they do 
not, only press your left forefinger on the cords 
in front of the ecraseur, then turn handle 
back a few turns to loosen chain, then 
grasp with right hand one chain and jerk 
it on through the cords and tissue, which 
will i-aw it off like a mash off, which pull 
through the loop, and all will be well. I 
expect to be criticised by thousands of cas- 
traters as a crank, but nevertheless I pro- 
pose to tell the truth plainly as I can, and 
candidly express my preferences, obtained 
by thirty years of practice. In speaking of 
the ecraseur I prefer a loose one, liable to 
pull part of both cords through the loop of 
the ecraseur, or, at least, some of the tissue, 
because when the chain fits closely it is 
harder to cut off with, and will bleed more 
than an old, loose, half worn out ecraseur 
does. Later T will describe my string ecra- 
seur. 

If you wish a bloodless operation, pinch 
one, or both cords at once, with your ecras- 
eur chain one inch above where you intend 
to crush them off at. Pinch half hard 
enough to sever the cords; then loosen and 
slip the chain one inch nearer to the seeds, 
and crush off square across the cords. As to turning the 
ecraseur slowly, I never do. I cannot see any benefit by do- 
ing so longer than five seconds on the first pinch; that stops 
the circulation in the blood-vessels inclosed in the chain. 

— 15 — 




rupture or scrotal hernia should always be castrated by the 
covered operation, two inches higher than commonly done, 
with large clamps, put on tightly, and left on to fall off 
within from five to seven days; therefore medicine on the 
clamps is unnecessary. Most all colts that show a rupture, 
while suckling, will be all right when one year old. Umbil- 
ical hernia is easily cured by a strong wooden clamp, put 
on tightly while the colt is held on his back; no cutting is 
necessary, only clamp all of the loose skin you can, and the 
end of the umbilical cord inside tightly, and let up; all will 
drop off in from five to seven days, and will be all right. 

Ridgling or CryP!orchid Castration. — When talking to 
my pupils I class as five different kinds. Number i is in 
the tunic and half way down from the inguinal ring to the 
scrotum, and is easily felt by an expert castrater while 
standing. Number 2, also, is in the tunic, but is so small, 
or so high up, or both, that they cannot be felt, as a rule. 
Number 3 is above the inguinal ring in the abdoman. 
Number 4, the testicle is in the abdomen, yet the courage 
ball {Globus Minor) ^ and some water is down in the tunic, 
as a number one ridgling seed, but seems .small. Number 
5 was once a plain No. 3, but is now diseased, and en- 
larged to ten or twenty times its natural size in the abdo- 
men, with serum, pus. or both. 

To castrate ridglings I think it very important to tie 
them in such away that the operator will have every advan- 
tage. I will here try to explain my favorite method: As I 
go through and over ten or twelve States each year in answer 
to calls to castrate, i first meet the owners of the stock, and 
next ask to see the stock. I first put my hand under and 
feel the scrotum, so as to decide for myself, or diagnose each 

— 16 — 



case regardless of what I am told, for owners are so often 
liable to forget how it is, and make mistakes. I then ask 
"Where do you wish the work performed?" If I think the 
place suitable, I take my ropes there and 
get ready; otherwise I select a place, and ask 
that we may use it. Any drj^ place, twelve 
by sixteen feet, is suitable, and five men as 
assistants are enough — a crowd is not desir- 
able, neither is it best to have assistants 
change places as holders, as a rule. On fresh 
plowed ground is a good place when dry, but 
in wet weather a barn floor is the general 
place. Then a bed of straw or hay is used, 
seven by ten feet, twenty inches deep, on which 
spread several old blankets to complete the 
bed and hold the straw in place, close to 
which lead the ridgling, and half hitch the 
halter strap or chin rope in his mouth; then put 
on 3 our nose twitch tightl}^ and now place him 
just at the edge of the bed, and he will stand 
there until you cast him. Now put on the 
ridgling ropes, f^ inch size, and sixty-six 
feet long, looped in the center for a collar 
to fit the horse, and put over his head the old- 
fashioned way., then pass both ends between 
his legs and outward, cross the same ropes un- 
der the first as they go back to the collar, on 
each side, as ptr cut No. 7. Explained only 
in my English or second Edition No. 3, 4 and 
5, ridgling methods which I sell at $10 each, and do not 
expect to put in this $2 book; and hope before I get through, 

— 17 — 



Ridfrlintr flax 
rope 66 feet 
loii^f fs size. 




CO 

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to fully satisfy all but rigdling castraters. I sell the second 
Edition at $io to all that want it at that price. But no or- 
dinary castrator should try to alter No. 3, 4, or 5 ridglings, 
for he will kill half of them. Experts should make it a 
specialty, but be willing to insure them and pay for the 
dead ones. 

Next put on your hopples as in cut No. 7, to cast him 
with. The ridgling ropes are only to re-tie with after cast- 
ing, yet can be used some by one man drawing on the right 
hand ndgling rope, at the word "pull." The operator 
should hold the left ridgling lope in his left hand, and when 
all is ready, as per cut No 7, should say "pull;" he and 
the heMd-holder, at that time, should push the horse over 
on the bed. Next the operator should draw on the rope in 
his left hand, hard, then put it where it comes around the 
hind leg, down to the ankle, and hold his left hand rope all 
the time; now withdraw the back rope out of the two first 
rings on the back rope and fiee the left hind foot irom the 
hopple. The two men pullers again take that rope, still 
holding tightly on the back rope which is still on all the 
other feet, while you adjust your big rope so as to let the left 
hind foot back near the stifle. The head-holder should now 
have the chin up and back, near puint of the horse's should- 
er; one man should be holding ten pounds on the big rope 
on the under side of the collar, out forward. Now put your 
left km-e uiuier the leit hind leg halfway from foot to hock, 
and bear it in to the horse, as in cut 8, about even with the 
stifle; then put your long rope dowMr on it at the ankle, and 
once around; then draw tightly to fit the rope to the ankle 
close; then take one-half hitch. Now put your rope over 
the rump or loin, and under the thigh. Ask some man to 

— V) — 



draw twenty-five pounds on that rope. While he draws, 
you lift the left hind foot with your hand enough to tighten, 
like cut 8, up and between the hocks and wrap around ankle, 
and then take two half-hitches and ask some one to hold 
five pounds on that rope, which will keep it from slipping 
and getting too long. Now go to the horse's lower feet and 
remove the back rope from the left fore foot by slacking the 
pull of the two first pullers on the left fore foot. Now re- 
tie that foot up tightly by looping a knee rope in the mid- 
dle over that ankle, and one end under the leg and one over 
the arm; tie tightly in a bow knot near the collar in No. 8. 
Now have the two first pullers who still hold the end of the 
back rope walk around behind the horse to his back, and 
pull hard. One man should now lift on the under fore leg, 
and, the operator assisting, all should turn the horse over 
.slowly, then tie the right legs just as you did the left legs; 
then turn him up on his back again, place the spreaders in 




SPREADER.S 20 INCHKS INSIDE. 

between the ankles as in cut 9, and tie ihem by putting the 
spreader loops over each hind foot, then tie around each leg 
with strings in the spreaders. Please ca.st and tie other 
horses repeatedly this way before you tackle a ridgling for 
castration — practice the A, B, C of ridgling work. 

Your easiest ridgling to castrate will be the one you tie 
best and hold properly. To get a good tie you must first 

— 20 — 



practice to get them in proper position; also learn to have 
them held properly afterthey are tied. The operator should 
keep cool and go slow, use no bad words, and show no cru- 
elty to the poor hoise that has not consented to such treat- 
ment, which he will prove by struggling, unless your nose 
twitch and half-hitch on his jaw constrains him to lie still, 
and thereby help you to do your work quicker. We will now 
suppose your ridgling is properly tied and held in position 
by three or more assistants, as in cut 9, on his right side, 
with chin up and back, and the top ridgling rope over your 
shoulder as you sit down flat on the ground, facing the horse 
with your legs over his tail; now grasp the sheath in your 
left hand, well forward, and make your incision through 
the skin four inches long, about one inch above the septum, 
or raphe, just where the seed should be, if down properly. 
Now with the two front fingers like glove stretchers, sepa- 
rate the tissues up the inguinal canal, but do not gouge into 
the body of the sheath; go up near the skin. When your 
hand is in the inguinal ring, six or seven inches up, according 
to the size of the horse, your fingers should be only one-half 
inch below the black skin; now oil your hand well with a 
tablespoonful of the best carbolized olive oil, and insert your 
hand, with the fingers pointed together cone-shaped, and 
rotate your left hand while you push upward, about five 
pounds weight, and slowly open the inguinal canal. The 
rotation of your hand will cause the tissues to give way in 
the proper place, until you reach the inguinal ring, which is 
up about eight inches in an eight-hundred-pound horse, and 
nine inches in a thousand-pound horse, and ten inches in a 
twelve-liuudred-pound horse, and about twelve inches up in 
a fifteen-hundred pound horse, varying only a little from this, 

— 21 — 




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according to the fatness of the horse. A number one ridg- 
ling's seed will be found in the tunic, five to six inches up 
the canal. A number two ridgling's seed is eight or ten 
inches up, j^et in the tunic. In each case work your finger 
around the seed, tunic and all, and break the adhesion, and 
gently draw it down some, then split the tunic with your 
hook or knife one inch, and with your two fingers tear the 
tunic open until the seed slips out, then put on your ecra- 
seur and crush off one inch above the .seed and Globus mi- 
nor. Numbers 3 4 and 5 not explained in this revision, 
are above the inguinal ring, floating in the abdomen. 

A few times I hav^e been called on to altar ahorse with one 
large seed, after two had been removed, and found it a scir- 
rhus cord as large as a seed. If it had been cut off three 
inches higher it would have been all right then, and no 
.scirrhus cords would have appeared afterward. I think all 
cases of hydrocele (water seeds) may be avoided by cutting 
high, say three or four inches above the testicles. I think 
all tetanus may be avoided in castration by using no clamps 
or ligatures to be left on over one day. I think nearly every 
death may be prevented by proper exercise and medicine af- 
ter castration. I never saw a horse I was afraid to castrate 
at a reasonable price, and insure him to live for ten per cent 
on that amount beside my regular fee for that class in that 
locality. Of course my fees are much lower at home than 
a thousand miles away from home. 

The best treatment I know of is to drench the horse 
twenty-four hours previous to the castration with one and 
one-half pints of raw linseed oil, and soon as castrated give 
him drachm doses of my castrating tincture every three 
hours apart: 

— 23 — 



Tincture of anconite root, one ounce. 
Fluid extract bellaclona, one ounce. 
Quinine, one-half ounce, rubbed down in one-half 
ounce of sulphuric acid. 

Put this all in a pint of water and give twelve doses, i 
drachm, or teaspoonful back on his tongue, not remaining 
up at night. The horse should be walked at least two 
hours daily. Moderate plowing all day is the best exer- 
cise to prevent stiffness. The oil you use when castrating 
ridglings should be pure olive oil, and to one pint add one 
ounce of carbolic acid. Your hands should be well washed, 
first with anticeptic solution, one to two-thousandth parts, 
then well oiled with this only; then insert your hand and do 
your operation. 

Have the incisions on ridglings opened well up, four or 
five inches high, just before they are walked morning and 
evening, so as to let all serum drop out, and thereby pre- 
vent all swelling, as it is called, when in fact it should be 
called neglect to open up the cuts five inches high for five 
days. Stallions and plain colts would do better in retain^ 
ing flesh, and make a better recovery if they were opened 
twice daily for five days three inches high. My forte, if I 
have any, is with a set of old ropes, casting and tying stock, 
and trying to cut or spay them, of which I am now trying to 
tell you my favorite methods. I castrate mules the same 
as I do horses, but I never saw a mule with a testicle in the 
belly, except one hermaphrodite that I altered. I have 
successfully castrated nine or ten hermaphrodite mares, 
finding several just like number two ridglings; others were 
as double number three ridglings, except the mammary 
glands were of the usual size for mares; I never knew one 
to die. I have cut them from four months old up to four 

years old. 

— 24 — 



To castrate a plain bull seems too common to speak of. 
But I prefer to cut off the lower end of the sack or bag, as 
little as will do, and squeeze the testicle down and out, 
tunic and all. Then grasp all of one seed with one hand 
and push up with the other, and break the cord off six, 
eight or ten inches above the seed. I do the other likewise. 
This is the most common method known. Yet some prefer 
to leave the bag on, and split into the seed through the 
tunic on each side. This leaves the tunic in the bag to in- 
flame, which I think is bad. I have known a few bulls to 
bleed to death from castration. In such cases I think a large 
rubber ring, or even two, high on the bag would soon stop 
the blood, but should be removed in four hours, or sooner. 
I will tell you better later on. I have castrated quite a 
number of ridgling bulls, the most of which were double 
number threes; all were barren. The seeds are not attached 
in a ridgling bull as in the ridgling horse, but are fast to 
the loin. To get them out, I have always had to cast the 
bull and cut in the side and spay them the same as a heifer, 




CUT NO. 10 

(as per cut of cow, standing,) a little forward of the hip 
bone, and half way down from the back to the belly, in the 
left .side. I hold the flank from me with the left hand, and 



place the hook, No. 2, in knife, where I wish the lower end 
of the cut. Bear the hook in, and pull up slowly about five 
inches, cutting only through the skin and tissue to the red 
slick beef. Now draw the hinder flap of this cut back one 
inch and then puncture the flesh and peritoneum with blade 
4 on knife. Then insert my first fingers of both hands and 
tear the flesh enough to admit my left hand. Then oil it 
with carbolized oil and insert it, and feel just behind the 
kidne)^ and I find the seed easily, unless I have overlooked 
a No. 2 seed high in the groin outside, and very small To 
remove it, or any ridgling bull's seed, pull and twist. It 
should break ofi" where the cord is small, five or six inches 
long. The lip covers the rupture you make, and the air is 
excluded by three or four stitches, only skin deep. 

You can alter ridgling hogs the same way, nicely and 
safely, if they weigh over two hundred pounds, but shoats 
of fifty pounds can be cut by using only two fingers in the 
side like spaying shoats; but decide before you cut in on 
which the side the seed is, by the testicle or scar on the side 
opposite. On the large hog there is no difference about 
sides, as the whole hand is inserted, and either is within 
easy reach just behind the kidneys. 

To spay sows, 1 cut in the same place. On a sow of one 
hundred pounds I cut on the left side, one inch forward of 
and three inches below the hip bone. Just shave the hair 
off clean, then split through the skin and fat, up and down, 
to the lean flesh, and pull the hind lip back, and puncture 
to the bowels, but not into them, back of the cut, one inch. 
Then introduce just two fingers on the left hand, and bear 
down in the hog s side, ai:d wipe back on the loin with the 
fingers to catch the ovary. Then remove it, and follow the 

— 27 — 



uterus down one horn to the junction, bearing down all the 
time, then up the other horn to the other ovary, and remove 
it, and sew up with two stitches skin deep onlj^ 

The way to make hog spaying easy is to get in practice, 
and never forget to bear down constantly on the cut with the 
back of your other fingers, which sinks your left front fin- 
gers nearer to the ovaries, and keeps the bowels in at the 
same time. The hog should lie flat on the ground on its 
right side, with two men holding each foot in a hand, and 
stretching lengthwise, with mouth open. This is the pre- 
ferred position by experts, who spay thirty hogs per hour 
all day. My dislike for hog music, which is so abundant in 
spaying, has prevented my doing it for pay, at the usual 
price of ten cents each, but I would use a bench if I spayed 
hogs. 

I do like, however, the work of spaying cattle. Year- 
lings are the most common ages; but all ages are spayed. 
A spaying chute is the best way, for then they are held still 
while standing; but for general practice the ropes are the 
most available and convenient. Let us suppose we have a 
lot of fifty cattle to spay today, mostly yearlings, and have 
five men as helpers, and have choice of a large lot of one 
acre, or a small lot fifteen feet by thirty feet, or a barn floor. 
If the weather is fair, the small lot will be the best; if rainy, 
the barn is preferable- — the acre lot is too large for conven- 
ience in catching. Now, all ready in the small lot, first run 
a wagon near one corner to crowd them behind; the catcher 
should be a plucky fellow, and catch the first yearling near 
him with his left hand under the chin, and his fingers in the 
right side of the mouth, his right hand on the left horn; 
then turn the calf's nose up and back on the left side tightly, 

— 28 — 



and hold it ^o one minute, when the calf will fall over on its 
right side. Rather than have its neck broken in this twist, 
when the calf falls the holder also should go down on its 
shoulder and still hold the nose up and around on its side. 
Now put the back rope, looped, around the right fore-foot, 
and a short hopple around the right hind-foot and left fore- 
foot; then thread the back rope through these three hopple- 
rings as above named, and have one man to hold them 
tightly. First put a knee rope upon the left hind foot, and 
have one man to hold it down and back tightly. She is 
now in position. Now clip the hair off vs^here you wish the 
cut, and brush off cleanly all particles of dirt and hair, with 
a brubh, or little broom, and use carbolized oil on your 
hand. Then make your incision about four inches long, 
through the skin and tissue, down to the red beef, one inch 
forward of the hip-bone, and about the middle of the heifer 
from the back to the belly. I like the hook No. 2 best in 
this operation, and use it entirely in all my spaying; but if 
you have something better to make the incision with, use 
it; then draw the hinder lip of the incision back one inch 
and a- half, then puncture through the flesh to the hollow but 
not into a bowel; then insert your two front fingers surely 
through the peritoneum; then tear the beef by pulling up- 
wards with left forefinger and pushing down with the thumb 
uniil your left hand will slip in easily when oiled, and feel 
on each side of the back-bone just behind the kidneys for 
the ovaries — in yearlings, lumps about the size of sparrow 
eggs, in cows, four times larger — hanging from two to four 
inches below the loins if standing, but when cast, may rest 
against the loins. If you do not understand the anatomy of 
the parts, go to a slaughter-house and examine them well 
first. 

— 29 — 



To remove the ovaries, I first find them with mj' left 
hand and shut my hand on the ovary while standing at 
their backs. I then put my long curved spaying scissors, 




SPAYING SCISSORS 

i6 inches long, points wide, and smooth and round, and 
push the points downward, on my arm, to the ovary, for 
perfect safety. Tie your scissors handles so you cannot 
open the points over half an inch back; then no bowel can 
slip in and get cut. as we work in the dark, inside, while 
I hold the ovary in my left hand. Then in my hand I open 
points of the scissors, and clip the ovary off while under my 
flexed fingers, with no danger of nipping a bowel. I like 
dull flesh scissors; next to the ecrasure, to crush off with, 
and much more convenient internally. When both ovaries 





NEEDLE — SIX INCHES LONG 

are removed, with half-inch of the attachments and filopean 
tubes, I sew up the skin only with this long needle, after 
bathing the parts internally and externally with the anti- 
sceptic solution, one part to two thousands, two tablets to 
one pint of water. 

Vaginal spaying ot cows is the preferable way, but it is 
seldom that our cattle is large enough, audit is rarely done. 

— 30 — 



What little spaying I have done on cows and mares per va- 
gina has been done with rude instruments of my own — 
a spear eighteen inches long, with a hook half an inch be- 
hind the point to cut back with, and surgeons' curved scis- 
sors twenty-two inches long. 



SPEAR — EIGHTEEN INCHES LONG. 

I first insert my left hand in the vagina, then the front 
finger into the os uteri, and bear down and forward, and 
puncture the vagina two inches behind the os uteri, above; 
then draw on the hook upon the end of the spear to split the 
vagina about two inches. I then remove the spear, and 
with my left hand enlarge the opening, and pass my hand 
on in the abdomen and grasp the ovaries, one at a time, 
and nip them off with the dull points of the long curved 
scissors, cows and mares both alike. No after treatment is 
used but my castrating tincture to mares as per ridglings 
later on. 

To spay a bitch of any size or age, 1 want a rope snug 
around the neck, held straight out in front of them, but al- 
ways under the chin, now tie a strong string three feet long 
over the nose and rope, one knot under the chin, then up 
behind the ears, and tie tightly on the top of the neck, near 
the head, in a bow-knot; then with a string or rope, accord- 
ing to the size of the dog, loop one end above each hook. 
Now hang the pup or bitch up so that the two hind teatSj 
when hung up, would be nearly as high as your shoulders 
— about three of four inches below. Next loop the ends of 
another string three feet long around each frout leg. These 
you can slip up or down on the frout legs to suit you after- 

— 31 — 



ward. Now have the collar rope fastened below on the 
wall, on a nail or ring, to hold the head down not tight, 
and one man to attend the head and keep the collar from 
choking the dog, and one man near to hold the tail from 
switching around. Now put your left leg over the string, 
as in cut of dog, holding the front legs, and adjust it to suit 
you, as per large or small bitch. With your left leg back 
a little, you hold the dog's back away from the wall and its 
belly facing you properly. All is now ready, with sci.ssors 
cut all long hair and brush it away. Now make your in- 
cision on the median line from between the two hind teats 
down to or a little below the next two teats, to the red 
flesh. Now puncture near the middle of cut, to the bowels 
only, then stick in the forefinger, then the right forefinger 
and tear the red flesh up and down; a tear heals better than 
a cut, look for either horn of the uterus. In a six weeks' 
old pup it is not larger than a large sewing thread ; in a six 
months' old pup it is about one-sixteenth of an inch, and 
in an aged dog one-quarter of an inch, if she is not in pup. 
Now, with both forefingers pointed together as a pair of 
foreceps, and all other fingers shut, insert the two forefing- 
ers, and with the back of the closed fingers push. And 
hold the bowels inside, while you are looking for the uterus, 
which is always near the loin behind the bladder, as the 
dog hangs up, and will soon turn red, if not found at once 
in pups, which makes it easy to distinguish as a little red 
cord. Then with your forecep fingers secure and hold it. 
Then hold it in left hand, and never pull up more than one 
pound on a pup six weeks old, or you are liable to break 
the uterus off at the ovary, but hold just so you can slip the 
right fore-finger down the uterus to find the ovary, which 



is as small as a grain of coffee, or even smaller, and fast to 
the kidney, and in a sack, at the lowest forward end of the 
uterus. Tear the ovary sack and all loose and up with the 
right finger nail. Then the uterus is strong enough to lift 
the ovary up to the opening. Now put your artery fore- 
ceps on, and pinch all attachments half an inch from the 
ovary, and cut the ovary off with small scissors, and 
leave foreceps on, holding all hemorrhage shut off, until 
you need them on the other ovary, and pinch it the same 
way until you clip the other ovary off with your scissors. 
Be sure to get it all, and one-half inch of the uterus be- 
sides. If you do not have clasping foreceps wax a small 
strong string, and tie it for two minutes, tight, but remove 
the waxed string and then sew up. 

I like to sew up with the uninterrupted suture, with that 
six inch crooked needle, you can hold it so well, and a 
good string in it; commence at the lower end and secure 
the peritoneum as well as the skin, and adjust the stitches 
before you fasten the top stitches. If the bitch is pregnant, 
I think she can be spayed safely and with less trouble. 
Instead of the trouble as in finding uterus and pup's, you 
find, with no delay, uterus, pups, and all, and draw them 
all out and detach the ovary sacks with your finger nail 
from below, and a two pound pull up on the other hand, 
until all are outside, and loose on both sides; then ligate 
all fatt}^ attachments with the vagina, one inch above the 
mouth of the uturus, tightly, and cut off and take out the 
whole uterus, pups, ovaries, and attachments. I find they 
do well in recovering. I have lost two bitches by my neg- 
lect to sew up tightly enough, and the bov/els came out 
the next day. I think it much better to have them empty 

— 34 — 



of food. Two days at first, until you get started. 

I secure and spay cats the same as pups, only they are 
much easier to spay; but it is well to keep one eye on their 
claws while so doing. 

I think the antiseptic solution is beneficial on all sur- 
gery at the strength of one to two-thousandth part, mostly 
used upon your hands, but some in and on the wounds. 

I think the stitches should be removed the third day on 
cats and dogs, if the dogs have not already licked them out; 
a pair of small scissors is best to cut .stitches with. 

CALF SPAYING 

To spay calves two to ten weeks old, I like to swing 
them up like the bitches are; and cut in as high as the ud- 
der, without cutting into it, then three inches down; and 
look behind the bladder, this is much easier than spaying 
bitches; 3^ou have only to try a few times to make it easy to 
do. Remember their teats not quite so high as your shoul- 
der will be best, but some calves are large and their heads 
and shoulders will rest on the ground. Sew up skin and 
flesh, over and over, then tighten up evenly, your thread 
from bottom to top. I use flax thread six strands, but put 
no wax on it. Spay thousands of scrub calves and do your 
country good. Ask your butcher when he kills a calf to 
let you split your cut, and feel in while he skins, one or 
more; take one inch of the uterus off with the ovary. 

CAPONIZING CHICKENS 

The most perplexing castration I find is the caponizing 
ol chickens. I have removed, as I supposed, two testicles 
each from young chickens, and found them when grown and 
fat, each one to have from one to three testicles remaining 
in him, These we call slips, and they will crow and have 



red combs, but will never sell as first-class. 

They chase the hens, but do not fertilize the eggs. In 
caponizing, to avoid making some sHps, it requires great 
care, and a fair chance, small birds of one or two pounds 
weight, well emptied, a clear day, the sun up high, and the 
work well done with convenient instruments through a large 
incision between the two last ribs on the right side. First, 
if the chicken has had no food for thirty hours, you will 
have him in condition; next, have a small table two by three 
feet, and two large strings each three feet long. Fasten a 
half brick to one end of each string. Now tie one string 
around his legs and drop the brick over the right end of the 
table; then the other string tie around the wings, close to 
the back, and drop the other brick over the left end of the 
table. He is now tied, and on his left side. Next pick the 
feathers off over the last rib to the hip bone. Now wet the 
feathers all around this naked place with very cold water, 
which numbs the feeling; the wet feathers will push back 
and stay out of the way better. Now put your fore finger 
on the hip bone and across the flank to the first rib. Then 
stick your knife in a half-inch deep there, between the first 
two ribs, and cut down and forward to the lower end of the 
ribs, then turn your knife and cut up between these first 
two ribs to near the backbone. For small chickens use one 
rubber, and large chickens use two rubbers. The rubbers 
pull the handles together. 

Now put in the spreaders and open the ribs. Next split 
the diaphragm which hides the bowels from you, now turn 
your table so the sunlight will shine inside on the testicles, 
and all will be seen plainly. Now take the grippers, and 
with the open ring up, slip under the lower testicle, and 

— 36 — 



gently wipe up from under the lower seed first, which will 
draw it toward you somewhat. Now stop and open the 
gripper's mouth by spreading your fingers while you hold 
still as you possibly can, under the seed; when the grippers 





GRIPPERS SPREADERS 

open, the seed will drop below the ring on the lower jaw; 
then shut them, and now turn the gripper over several 
times to twist the tunic, then draw out and try to get all the 
seed and the tunic (covering). The top seed is much easier 
to get, but it is better to leave it until the last; use it as a 
guide to get the lower seed first. Now replace the wet 
feathers properly and let him go without sewing up, as the 
ribs close the opening. If you have no capon izing instru- 
ments, split between the ribs with any knife, and take two 
wires a foot long, bend a hook on one end each and have a 
boy hold the ribs apart as wide as you like them, while you 
work. Next have a small ecraseur of your own make out 
of a goose quill. Cut off the lower point and cut a hole in 




QUILL AND HORSE-HAIR 

the side, get out the pith and insert both ends of a long 
coarse horse-hair from below, and leave a loop at the lower 
end like the cut. Through the hole in the side put this loop 
of hair over the seed, then tighten it by lifting on both ends 
the hair, and pull all out while you push down to keep it 
tight, and pull seed, tunic, and all out clean, and you will 



have but few slips. This will work on small chickens, one 
and a half pounds fellows, but cannot be used on two or three 
pounds young cockerels. A wire six inches long, crooked 
at the end to raise testicles up will be handy. Try a dead 
one first. 

MY MISTAKEvS THROUGH IGNORANCE 

I was called to spay twenty cattle, and alter one colt at 
a certain town. I did the work nicely, as I thought. The 
seventeenth subject, a two year old heifer, was so hot that 
I then remarked, "vShe was boiling hot inside;" but I pro- 
ceeded with my work without washing my hands or instru- 
ments, or using any antiseptics, and spayed three more and 
altered the colt. Within a week the heifer I mentioned, 
the three operated upon after, also the colt, all died. I now 
think ignorance on my part cost the lives of these three 
well cattle and the colt. 

Again, I was called to altar five ridglings and one stal- 
lion at Dr. Wm. Sheppard's, M. R. C. V. S., of Ottawa, 
111, I was, -while there, presented with a fine gold-headed 
cane by twenty veterinarians. The work was nicely done, 
as all pronounced it, and so I thought. However, all died 
but one horse, and he had a bad time of it because the first 
one was a double number three ridgling, and was sick. I 
noticed it, and said he was very hot inside, but did not think 
to wash my hands, or know how to use antiseptics, which I 
shall never fail to do hereafter. Still. I have done hundreds 
not so smoothly, that seemed to do extra well. My advice 
to all surgeons is to use your thermometer per rectum, and 
if the temperature is above one hundred and one degrees, 
defer your operation and give some sort of physic and come 
again. When you do operate, have clean hands and instru- 

— 3,8 — 



ments, for your own credit and your patron's good. 

But I now remember a different result on sick horses. 
At Hartford, Ky., I altered three ridglings in an old shed 
in a heavy and protracted rain, five miles from the railroad. 
When done, one owner said, "My colt has the distemper, 
and was a double number three ridgling, and this weather 
is so bad, I think I will have him insured at one hundred 
dollars." His brother said, "My colt has the same disease, 
and I believe it will be best to be on the safe side, if it does 
cost ten dollars more," and both took my insurance policy 
for one hundred dollars each, and paid me the extra money. 
If the other owner had been present instead of the groom, 
I think I should have had to make out, unwillingly, another 
policy. My circulars for the past eighteen years have said: 
"I will insure all ridglings that I get the first cut on, for 
ten per cent extra, upon the value of the horse, the owners to 
decide which they prefer after they see the work done." 
At this particular time, in the mud, rain, etc., I sort of had 
the blues, something I am not subject to, and I would have 
preferred paying the ten per cent, not to take the risk, as 
these horses had the distemper, and were obliged to go sev- 
eral miles in a hard rain and deep mud; and, from general 
appearances, I feared would have poor stables and attention 
at home. But my circulars in our correspondence made 
the offer, and I felt honor bound to make my word good 
without complaint. Luckily for me, however, all three did 
well, and I received a very complimentary letter in two 
weeks saying, ' 'Our horses are all well, and did not appear 
to mind the operation at all," 

ANOTHER MISTAKE 
I would like to tell you how I lost my handkerchief. I 
— 39 — 



was called to Terre Haute, Ind., to altar a number three 
ridgling. I got him down and tied. I then made an in- 
cision through the peritoneum. Just then he struggled, 
and I made the rupture much too large, and the bowels came 
down. I put them back again and again, and finally got 
the seed out and the bowels in. But they would not stay, 
so I asked a boy to give me my handkerchief from my over- 
coat on the fence. I took it and crammed it high up in the 
inguinal canal and let the horse up, and down came the 
bowels again. I caught them, and with little difficulty re- 
placed them once more while standing, but forgot the hand- 
kerchief. I soon missed it, however, and supposed I now 
had a new and desperate case on hand, but I had no trouble 
while standing to lift his hind foot and set it on my knee, 
and then gently insert my hand to the rupture and my fin- 
gers inside, and there found and got the handkerchief. That 
colt worked every day and did well, but I did not tell any 
one for several years of my loss. I now tell you, so that 
you may be more careful; for should such an accident hap- 
pen you, it may be of service to you to know how others 
have done when cornered. 

I have now about one hundred and twenty pupils upon 
the royalty plan, for ten years' time, and I tell them all 
never to be afraid of blood or bowels, for there is a way to 
manage them with safety. You can take up and tie almost 
any blood-vessel, or open a horse and take out and look at 
his bowels and safely put them in, and have him live and 
do well. 

There are a number of bitches in this town that I have 
spayed, removing ovaries, womb, pups and all, that lived 
and did well. There is a dog here now that never was born; 

— 40 — 



and his mother is here and well, also, The pelvis bones 
would not open, and, after one day in labor, I opened the 
belly and the womb and took him out, and in four months 
after spayed the mother, at the same opening, and found 
the womb grown in the cicatrix. 

I never found the mare or cow I could not deliver suc- 
cessfully. 

I was called by Jack Pierce, my friend, at Ridge Farm, 
111., to altar three ridglings, about forty miles from here. 
The first one had been cut into, without success, twice be- 
fore, and was healed up tightly, and was hard calloused in 
the groin. This horse was badly stringhalted at that time 
on that side. By chance that horse was cast first, and with 
much trouble castrated. 

The second was cast and partly tied, when upon looking 
around I saw the bowels of the first one hanging out. I 
asked some man to hold them up until the second horse was 
castrated, so we could have the ropes to use, but the horse 
was restless and the man timid, and he would let go. So 
the bowels came on down nearly to his hocks, and we let 
the half tied horse up, and cast number one with the four 
hobbles and back rope, and soon replaced the bowels. I 
then castrated the second and third ridgling. I then saw 
the bowels hanging out again. We cast number one the 
third time, and I took a stitch, as I supposed, around the 
inguinal passage and left for the train. When I had gotten 
a quarter of a mile away I heard a call, and looking back, 
knew by their gestures that something was wrong. I re- 
turned at once and found a bucket full of bowels out and the 
horse down in the dogfennel and weeds and quite sick. We 
put the ropes on this one the fourth time; next picked the 

— 41 — 



dogfennel off, oiled the bowels. I then slipped mj' hand 
into the inguinal pas!-age up to the ring; then grasped the 
bowels and put them back through the rupture by lifting 
one inch at a time, when the horse was on his side and the 
rupture up. I then split into the inguinal channel as high 
as I could conveniently, about half way up to the ring, up 
and down, three inches long, so I could then see where to 
put my needle, still above my last cut, so as to close the su- 
ture around the channel above. That horse made a good 
recovery, but strange to say, he was never seen to show 
stringhalt afterward and soon sold for a good price. 

I forgot to speak ofone ridgling I castrated in Kentucky. 
He had been unsuccessfully operated upon repeatedly on 
both sides, and was hard and calloused in the groin. I 
spayed hitn (the only one I ever did that way) in the right 
side, as we do cows in the left side. He got his pint and a 
half of linseed oil twenty-four hours previously, and twelve 
of my one-drachm doses of castrating tincture promptly af- 
terward, and th ntiseptics were used freely. He did well 
in recovering. 

SOMK OF MY MISTAKES ON DOGS 

I spayed an eight-month-old pup, and by mistake got one 
ureta, instead of one horn of the uterus, and broke it off 
near the kidney. Then, for experiment, I cut it off near the 
bladder, and then sp.iyeJ her. She was helpless for .several 
days after, and filled up, seemingly with water. She broke 
at the incision several times, and the water ran out, but she 
finally got well in two months. 

I spayed a four-weeks-old pup, and made the same mis- 
take, and it lived. But the nicest job 1 ever did in spaying 
was on three- month-old pups. The second one was spayed 

— 43 — 



in five minutes, without one drop of blood. I was proud, if 
I must admit it, of my .skill. The owner was pleased that 
the pup took it so kindly; it made no move while I was 
spaying it, or ever afterward, but it was not choked to death, 
which there is some danger of doing. The same man want- 
ed some pups' tails cut off, near Boston, Mass. I put the tails 
in the ecraseur, and pinched them off. That works like a 
charm. Try it, Mr. V. S. 

HORSES TAILS 

I am often called to straighten horses' tails. My prefer- 
ence is to cast the horse with my four hobbles and back-rope, 
and use my castrating knife with No. 4 blade, the small 
blade on my castrating and spaying knife, as shown on 
page 13. 

To cut the upper cord or muscles in two, in one, two or 
three places, according to how much it crooks, avoiding the 
joints. I aim to cut so the tail will go straight and a little 
over to the other side, for in healing it will settle back a lit- 
tle. I put my blade in half an inch below the hair, side- 
ways, and bury all the cutting edge beyond the skin well; 
then turn the edge up and cut all the top muscle in two up 
to the skin. Then turn the knife over and cut down to the 
tail bone to make sure of all the cord while the muscle is 
tight. By bending the tail from you, no after treatment is 
necessary. I like this better than only to make one cut, and 
tie the tail around to the opposite side for one week or 
longer. 

DEHORNING 

I never met a farmer who knew nothing about dehorn- 
ing but objected to such cruelty. I also never knew one 
who had had twenty cattle dehorned but was in favor of it 

— 44 — 



always afterward. I am most decidedly. I think it a great 
prevention of cruelty to animals. The best way is to blister 
the horns off of the little calves with the strongest blister 
you have. I think any strong blister will kill the horns, 
especially one drop of the oil of mustard on each horn; but 
after the horn is one inch long, here horn forceps are used 
to take them out with. Yearlings and all older cattle are 
best dehorned with a small bone saw, such as butchers use. 
Specialists, as dehorners here, make a frame to load in a 
wagon and haul around the country and will stop at the 
barn door or gate and dehorn all your cattle for ten cents 
each, and they saw down into the head so as to have a ring 
(a quarter of an inch) of skin left on each horn, which is 
the best way and the right place. I think in a few years 
more, in this country, horns on cattle will not be seen at all 
for none die from dehorning and the cost is so slight. They 
feed, handle and ship better, as well as sell better, without 
horns. Try it and be convinced. 

PRICES 
In the Western and Middle States the common price for 
ordinary castration is generally one dollar per head, in 
small lots, but for yearling mules in large droves, twenty- 
five cents each is a common price — that is for seventy-five 
or one hundred in a place. In the Eastern States the price 
is generally double what it is in the Western, that is, where 
there are not so many in a place to alter. Where there is 
but one or two in a place, the price is five dollars each, 
East, if well-bred stock. Three-fourths of them are now 
cast and clamped; many years ago standing was as common 
as casting. I think casting the best way, and do that en- 
tirel}- of late years, but have altered nearl}' one thousand 

— 45 — 



standing. I never did but one ridgling standing, and will 
never try another that way. 1 suppose I get better prices 
than any castrater ever did or ever will again, as my trips 
are so lengthy, but my pupils will soon divide that practice 
up, and none have such long trips or heavy expenses to 
reach their patrons. I castrate in the East a few yearlings 
in bunches at five dollars each; where there are but two or 
three at a place, ten dollars each; ridglings, four or more in 
a place, twenty dollars each; for one only, more is charged, 
according to time taken and railroad expenses. 

Two years ago, W. L. Scott, of Erie, Pa., wanted me to 
alter five yearling colts — all plain work. I did them nicely 
as I could, when he asked me what my charges were. I 
told him ten dollars each — he objected to the price and paid 
me fifteen dollars each. Last year I altered eleven 
plain colts for him, and charged one hundred and ten dol- 
lars. He objected again, and paid me one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars. Let me further say, one of his first five 
colts ("Chaos") wen for Mr. vScott, as a Iwo-year old, 
seventy- five thousand dollars as a race horse — in five races. 

While in Tennessee, Nov. 1887, I received a letter say- 
ing, "Farmer Miles, when can you come to Saratoga and 
alter four plain colts? J. B. Djer." I answered. "I can 
go to Saratoga, N. Y., and alter four plain colts nicely, 
Dlc. 10. for seventy-five dollars, if answered soon, saying 
come." In three days I rectived a telegram saying, 
"Farmer Miles, your seventy five dollar rates are satisfac- 
tory. Come Dec. 10." I went and got his seventy-five 
dollars, and his thanks, also. 

Dec. 20, 1888, 1 was again called to castrate seven plain 
colls for J. B. Dyer, and did so, charging him one hundred 

— 47 — 



and fifty dollars. This you may think a big price, but Mr. 
Dyer seemed satisfied. 

In June, 1888, I was paid sixty-five dollars to alter one 
ridgling colt for Mr. E. Thorn, of Henderson, N. C. 

In August, 1888, I was paid seventy-five dollars to alter 
one double number three ridgling horse for T. Dudley, 
Topeka. Kan. 

. The best I ever did was to alter six ridglings and two 
plain yearlings at Bangor, Me,, for one hundred and sixty 
dollars, one afternoon, all easy work, and a pleasant crowd, 
and plenty of sweet cider to drink. The most I was ever 
paid for one operation, was eighty-five dollars, on a rup- 
tured, heavy stallion, near Pittsburg, Pa. 

The most difficult operation I ever did on a fine bull, 
was for rupture of the scrotum on one side, in Chicago. 
One State Veterinary had tried to return the bowels with 
his hand in the rectum and the bull on his back one hour, 
and failed to return them, two weeks before I was called. 
I split the bag, tunic, and all, and found adhesion of the 
bowels all around in the tunic, which was very large and 
hard. I broke down the adhesion and then replaced them. 
Also put the testicle on that side in, rather than remove it, 
and sewed all up, with anticeptic, in which Dr. Withers, 
V. vS. , of the Veterinary College of Chicago, kindly assisted 
me. 

The most surgery I ever did in one day with five helpers 
and only one set of ropes, was to spay two hundred and five 
large wild cows for J. W. Iliff, of Denver, Col., and I 
climbed a small pole about twenty-five times, besides, when 
I was tired. I presume you would like to know what pole 
climbing had to do with spaying cattle? It saved my life 

— 48 — 



many times. It is very easy to do when a fellow knows the 
cow is very mad, and comes at him double quick, with such 
long horns, out on the plains, thirty miles from any tree or 
house. I sometimes feel I could climb two at a time, or 
any other way to get out of their reach. Each helper also 
had a pole planted near him, to climb when necessary. Mr. 
Iliff had fifty-five thousand head, and all as wild as Buffa- 
loes. 

The most large horses I ever altered in one day was 
sixty-six head for Lux & Miller, of San Francisco, Cal., on 
a farm fourteen miles wide on an average, and over fifty 
miles long. I also spayed a few cattle for them, out of their 
eighty thousand head, and other stock in proportion. From 
there I went to Pettaloma, Col.> and offered to castrate the 
"man eater" free of charge (it was an imported Norman 
stallion seventeen hands high, that had killed several men) 
but he was kept as a show then, and I failed to get the job; 
but a month later he was shot seven times and killed, while 
he had his keeper. Prof. Tapp, down trying to kill him. 

I felt proud as an American to cast a very vicious ridg- 
ling horse for Mr. Case, in the Veterinary College, London, 
Eng., and castrated him in good order, before a large crowd 
of veterinarians there, who always treated me as kindly as 
if I was a veterinary myself, with a large diploma. 

I have castrated in the veterinary colleges of Paris, 
France; London, Eng.; Glasgow, Scotland; Montreal, Can- 
ada; Boston, Mass.; Chicago, 111.- and other cities too 
numerous to mention. I have spayed cows for the State of 
Pennsylvania, and have castrated colts for the Baltimore & 
Ohio Railroad Company, two of the richest firms any cas- 
trater ever worked for. 

— 49 — 



I felt pleased to be permitted by George Fleming, F. M. 
R. C. V. S., to alter one of Queen Victoria's Life Guard 
horses, free of charge, after I said I did not charge poor 
widows anything. I now have Mr. Geo. Flemings testi- 
monial of it and that the horse was sound and well the 
twelfth day, at St. John's Wood Barracks, London, before 
several of England's best veterinarians. He was a black, bob- 
tailed number three ridgling. I did him in good time and 
order, and did not draw ten drops of blood. The horse was 
sound and well twelve days after, which proved that the 
work was well and properly done. 

I went to England in September of 1878, to spend three 
or four weeks only, and found it so pleasant that I remained 
there one year. I have most kind remembrances of the 
treatment I received while in England and Ireland by 
the veterinary surgeons there, and of their universal kind 
treatment and hospitality. Where I expected rivalry and 
competition, I found all helps and kind treatment. I now 
wear a gold watch — a timer — presented to me at Drawhada, 
Ireland, and inscribed thereon as follows: "Presented to 
Father Miles by Messrs. Drummond and Jones, Veterinary 
Surgeons, in testimony of his ability as an operator upon 
horses when in Ireland in May, A. D. 1879." 

I was also presented with the following upon parchment, 
which I call my English diploma: 

"We, the undersigned veterinary surgeons, practicing in 
the county of Lincoln, having witnessed Mr. T. C. Miles' 
operations upon ridgling horses, desire to bear witness to the 
humane, scientific and perfectly satisfactory manner in 
which he attains his object. We also wish to express our ap- 
proval of his method of casting and securing the animal, and 

— 51 — 



of the instruments he uses in the performance of the oper- 
ation." 

This was signed by fifteen of the best veterinarians in 
Central England, and sent to me most unexpectedly as a 
present from rivals in castration after my return home to 
Illinois, and for which, both watch and diploma, I have 
often felt that it would be a great pleasure to me if I could 
again meet those gentlemen and say, "Thank you, thank 
you," several times to each one for the gratification and 
pleasure you gave me. 

, Some of the pictures in this book are of a ball face horse 
bought for $100.00 for the purpose of operating upon, and 
for giving some final instructions to a class of pupils. He 
was a double No. 3 ridgling. He was first cast and tied as 
herein represented, and held upon the ground, while twenty- 
four hands were inserted in my cuts up to the bowels, for 
three minutes to each pupil, while examining the parts, as 
I progressed in his castration. Of course he was as merci- 
fully treated as possible, and with clean hands, well oiled. 
Still he was kept tied down more than an hour. However, 
he did well, and I considered him sound and well the 
twelfth day after, with no swelling of the sheath, as is com- 
mon in castration, and was used daily while recovering. He 
was not given the pint and a half of linseed oil previously, 
as recommended, but was given the regular drachm doses 
of the castrating tincture promptly, and was well opened 
twice a day for five days five inches up in the groin on each 
side, and was trotted around in our operating house twenty 
minutes after each opening of the cuts, and I now think all 
operators on ridglings can safely and well perform all such 
castrations, if they will strictly follow the contents of this 

— 52 — 



little book. I do not think any man will fully understand 
these instructions by once reading them, but it will be best 
to read them, short as they are, until all are familiar; then 
put in practice all tying and rope work, until all is easy to 
do, before the commencement of surgery. I feel sure you 
w\U never regret the time lost in so doing. There is money 
in it, and more sport and pleasure in it than gunning where 
the game is plenty. My pupils all declare there is nothing 
called business so pleasant as to meet a crowd of gentlemen 
with four or five ridglings to alter, and be able to nicely 
cast, and tie, and castrate them in one hour, to the satisfac- 
tion of all present, and then be paid one hundred dollars 
cash in hand, and complimented for their .success. I have 
experienced this sensation many times in life, and I also 
testify that it is pleasant. Try it a few times. I think you 
would like it more and more. 

Believing I have given all the necessary information 
upon this subject, I wi.sh, before closing, to say to all read- 
ers of this little book, as I generally say to the crowds of 
spectators that collect at the various places where I am 
called to operate, and to those who help me in my work, 
that surgery, whether upon man or beast, should always 
be humane. We should always remember that a horse is 
one of man's nearest and best friends and helpmates below 
his own race; that God has giv^en him to serve and obey; to 
be patient and kind to man. In return we should remember 
that in sickness and health we should care for this animal 
with a kindly heart and the greatest sympathy. While he 
tru.'-ts man we hope that man will not betray the confidence 
the noble brute places in him, and in all kinds of surgical 
operations it has been one of my highest aims and ambitions 

—.53 — 




6 

Z 

h 
D 

o 



to do the work skillfully, and to cause as little pain as is 
possible with success. We must remember that the poor 
creature is bound and held at our mercy; that he too, has 
nerves, suffers pain and is entitled to all human kindness; 
and I believe there is no greater crime in the annals of in- 
humanity than the torture or recklessness which may pro- 
duce pain and suffering in this noble animal. And I do 
hope and trust that all who may try to follow my footsteps 
in the surgical part of this work will also keep ever in mind 
that pain is severe; that animals suffer but can not speak or 
even cry to tell us of their pain and sorrow. Never keep an 
animal fettered or bound a moment longer than is necessary. 
Never produce pain that can be avoided. In other words, 
always follow the golden rule in your dealings with your 
best friend in the animal kingdom. 

Finally, good-bye. God bless you all. Live right and 
easy, and let us all try to meet in heaven. I believe in God 
the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit, three in one. 
I believe as old Paul said to the Athenians, the time of this 
ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men every- 
where to repent. I think good works are good fruits for 
believers to bear; but that Jesus Christ is the only Savior 
of sinners, and that on the conditions that we trust Him and 
try to obey Him. 

Yours truly, 

FARMER T. C. MILES. 
Charlkston, Illinois, U. S. A. 




APPENDIX 



....TO.... 



ANIMAL CASTRATION AND SPAYING 

AS PRACTICED BY FARMER MILES 



FARMER milks' THEORY ON CATTLE SPAYING 

That scrub cattle are more costly per pound for either 
milk or beef to farmers than well bred cattle. And that 
twelve years of annual castration of all males not needed, 
as best for bulls, and twelve years of annual spaying of 
cows, calves and heifers of ten per cent of all female cattle, 
selecting each year to spay only the most inferior of their 
classes; Jersey's, Guernsey's, Holstein's (for milk); vShort- 
horn's, Poled Angus and Hereford's (for beef) would soon 
work wonders in improvement and pay well from start to 
finish. Any man, country or state can do it safely and 
profitably, if they try. "Then" why has it not been do7ie 
beforef I think I can tell the whole story from personal 
observation in twenty to thirty years ago. I spayed cattle 
in different countries, in several states, and spayed cattle 
became veiy much sought after, and I was kept busy as I 
was in good practice, and did good work, for several years 
in connection with my specialty on ridgling horse castration, 

— 57 — 



but in later years when called to the same places to alter 
ridglings I was asked repeatedly, "Why spayed heifers 
bulled badly now a days?" I answered, "Spayed heifers 
never bull." 

These stock men claimed that so many heifers bulled 
and kept the herds excited that they would not dare to 
handle them any more as stockers or feeders. 

I had charged fifty cents each to spay, and could spay 
ten or twelve an hour. Men and boys helping me to cast 
and hold them saw all outside work and took up the trade 
at twenty-five cents each, and spoiled it by only half spay- 
ing some and getting out a lump that is not an ovary by 
mistake. I offer to pay the worth of any cow or calf I spay 
that bulls afterward, and can teach my methods plainly to 
others now in this book to safely spay cattle. Calves and 
yearlings are the best age, but old cows also are safely 
spayed. I have spayed many cows forward in calf, which 
is not advised, it is not so safely done then. I have spayed 
hundreds of milch cows. The rule is, they give much more 
milk and in three or four years, gradually get very fat, 
while milking well. If I was a dairyman I would spay all 
my dairy cows. As a rule, spayed dairy cows milk well, 
for three or four years, and if well fed, can be kept up to a 
full flow in winter, when milk is scarce. But the point in 
a spayed dairy cow is that her stomach is like the hopper 
of a good mill grinding; it must make good goods of all 
that goes through it, either milk or high-priced beef, or 
both, while the open cow wastes part of her time and feed 
wanting a bull every twenty-one days; and, after that time, 
much of her feed goes to build up a worthless calf, which 
lowers her amount of milk, and if sold for beef, lowers 

— 58 — 



her quality and price for beef. Generally; two fat spayed 
milch cows, in the Spring, will sell for more than three 
fresh cows cost. 

In prices of beef, per pound, old bulls are the lowest, 
old cows the next; good fat steers better, but nice, fat 
spayed heifers, of same age of steers, are the best. But 
young spayed cows, milked three or four years, and fed 
well all the time, pay well all the time and get very fat, 
and when dried up and stuffed two months sell on a spring 
market up with large fat steers at any time. I was paid 
$40.00 by a committee of Veterinary Surgeons, for the state 
of Pennsylvania, to spay eight nice milch cows at Steelton, 
Pa., in full flow of milk, to test its effects on the cows and 
on the quality of the milk, I met one of the gentlemen a 
5'ear later and asked him what they thought of it now, he 
said they were much pleased and would want more spayed. 

I know abortions of dairy cows, so much dreaded by 
large dairymen, can be prevented entirely by spaying and 
not lose more, or so many, as in giving birth. 

I see three kinds of factories to make our beef of, grass; 
and three kinds of mills to make our flour of, our wheat; 
the bulls and breeding cows' stomachs are like our old mills 
were fifty years ago, a poor article at best, the castrated 
steer well fed makes much better beef; the heifer, spayed 
when young, and well fatted, the best of all. The bull 
frets and slobbers over his feed and wastes some feed; the 
breeding cow takes much of her feed to make a calf; the 
steer is more quite and makes a better article; the spayed 
heifer is still more quiet and feeds better yet, and makes the 
most and best beef out of a bushel of feed, and if at the 
same age, will sell in market quicker than the steer, for as 

— 59 — 



much, or more per pound, she may not grow quite so large 
as the steer, but she will gain more and net better on a 
given amount of good food and pay a better per cent on 
what she consumes. 

I have driven fat cattle, when a boy, from Lexington, 
Ky., to New York City. I have driven fat cows and bar- 
ren heifers, all short horns, to Cincinnati for Christmas 
beef that netted 1,112 pounds, after being killed forty-eight 
hours. 

I suppose you know that heifers twins with a bull calf 
are always barren, as though spayed. 

The shrewdest cattle man I ever knew, I think, was J. 
W. Iliff, of Denver, Col., for whom I spayed 1,407 cows, 
calves and heifers, every old cow, every very ill shaped cow 
and all black ones. I think I spayed more than 100 cows 
for him over fifteen years old, and pulled out all front teeth, 
if there was any teeth, he said they could eat better with 
their gums alone than with two or three old snags. His 
idea was to stop their breeding long enough to get fat and 
sell them, and buy two two-year-olds with the money they 
brought him, on each old cow. Spayed cows milk continu- 
ously for several years, and in winter as well as summer, 
and pay better than to let the cow bull or fret for a bull 
every twenty-one days, and when bred, to stop that loss by 
fretting, then the expense of building up a worthless calf 
commences. No dairyman wants a calf, but milk. No 
feeder wants a calf, but beef. A fat spayed heifer's beef 
sells highest per pound, a fat breeding cow much lower per 
pound. 

Or in other words $20 worth of good feed fed the spayed 
heifer, or spayed cow, will pay the owner a much better 

— 60 — 



profit than the pregnant cow or the bulhng cow can pay, 
and spaying the inferior cows the crop of calves will be 
better each year, we all know. 

You may say Farmer Miles is a crank on spaying, but 
that does not disprove his theory. He has spayed from 
Bangor, Maine, east, to Southern California, and all through 
the states, and as high as 1,407 at one place, has spayed for 
men and firms worth millions, has spayed in England, Ire- 
land and Scotland, of all ages and kinds. J. D. Gillett, of 
Elkhart, Ills., had me spay 300 thoroughbred short-horn 
• yearlings one year, and the next year 500 of the same kind. 
I thought that a great pity, but he said spay, and I try to 
do as requested. 

I feel certain that no man ever saw 800 finer beeves 
than they made, bred, raised and fed by one man, on one 
farm of 18,000 acres, in Central Illinois. Why cannot such 
stock be raised, just as well as scrubs, by spaying up to it 
in a few years time, and live on the fat scrubs for beef, un- 
til the scrubs are all consumed, and this land as cattle 
breeders be known as the wonder of the world. All make 
both more milk and more money by judicious spaying, 

MISCELLANEOUS TALK TO STALLION OWNERS 

I was passing near Waterville, Maine, in a buggy 
several years ago, with Dr. Wm. Fairbanks, V. vS., of 
Augusta, Me., when a voice was heard, ''Hello there?'' I 
looked out and a man asked "is Farmer Miles there?" I 
said yes sir. He replied, "drive in, I want to see you." 
We were now at C. H. Nelson's Steed Farm. Mr. Nelson 
said to four men "Boys, hook up Nelson, I want the great- 
est castrater in the world to drive the greatest trotting stal- 
lion in the world." Saying tome "Farmer Miles, Nelson's 

— 61 — 



record as a stallion is 2:0934^, and I was oflfered $100,000.00 
for him lately, but won't sell him. You get in that buggy 
and go where you please, but don't you let any one pass 
you." 

I drove Nelson about two miles and returned, feeling 
I had lots in my care just then. 

T was also told that Nelson was booked to be bred to 
thirty mares that season, at $750.00 per mare. In my ab- 
sence the twenty- second mare arrived at the stud to be bred. 
The four grooms soon had the harness off, Nelson rubbed 
dry and slicked up in good order. In that time the mare 
was tried by another of Mr. Nelson's four or five stallions, 
and found to be ready to be bred. She was then tied firmly 
by the halter in a triangular stall that was well padded 
on three sides, then, after a good set of hobbles was placed 
on her, to prevent kicking, Mr. Nelson ordered the groom 
to bring Nelson to the breeding room. I stood by with Y)r. 
Fairbanks and saw the performance, after which Mr. Nel- 
son said to me "Farmer Miles did you see what I did?" I 
answered, yes sir, I did. He asked me what I thought of 
it. I said I never saw any thing like that before, I would 
thank you for a reason for all your trouble. 

THE MODUS OPERANDI 

When the Stallion leaped on the mare's hips a groom on 
the offside caught her tail and pulled it out of the way, to 
the right side, while the first groom held the mare by the 
bridle, forward. Mr. Nelson grasped the penis from above 
with his right hand, about seven or eight inches irom the 
end, not closing his fingers all around or under the penis, 
but let the horse use about one-third of his penis only. 

Mr. Nelson then said, "Farmer, you see that Nelson has 
— 62 — 



a long rod, and for years was not a sure foal getter, but 
since I have adopted this rule eighty-five per cent of all the 
mares he serves, have colts." 

I believe Mr. Nelson's theory is correct. I have re- 
peated this (Nelson) practice to several large breeders since, 
that told me. "I now know why one of my best horses was 
a failure as a breeder, he was almost barren, also saying he 
had the longest rod on him you ever saw." Again I person- 
ally knew of several mares, bred year after year called bar- 
ren, but, when let run with a young stallion colt out in the 
pasture, that bred without trouble. That I believe would 
always have remained barren if hampered and hobbled and. 
helping the horse to pass beyond the proper limit. That, a 
mare can prevent when loose in the pasture, by stepping 
forward. 

I have owned ten or twelve stallions and seven or eight 
jacks and several times, ju&t as the stallion was getting off, 
it looked as though all of the semen was spilt on the 
ground. I said to the groom, write on the stud book for 
that mare, that all spilt out, and let us see the results. 
Each mare stood from the spilt covers, to my surprise. 

I now remember that the jacks had all advantage of the 
maie in the stocks, and universally a long root, and went 
too far and did not prove sure as stallions do. I think that 
was the cause of failure. I feel certain that mares will all 
step forward, when loose in the lot, when the horse or jack 
on them hurts them by going in too far; a violation of ani- 
mal nature and costly to the owners. 

Western and Texas Cavelrj^ yard studs are good herders, 
they keep their bands together on their own range near 
water; owners know where to find them, but he may be the 

— 63 — 



worst scrub in the lot. The owner wishing to breed to a 
better and larger horse sometimes lassoes that little scrub 
stud and split his sheath, three or four inches long, back 
between his testicles and push his penis back, and put the 
end through this cut, downwards, so he cannot draw the 
end back into the sheath proper. 

Then when a mare comes in season he will mount her 
frequently, but his penis points downward and he cannot 
serve her. While so doing the owner or herdsman out on 
the ranch can see what is needed; will drive the whole 
band of horses into a yard and separate that mare in a pound 
to herself and then turn his better stallion in with her, and 
after service let her go, &c, &c, &c, until the good stallion 
has served them all; in the breeding season, then lasso the 
scrub and replace his penis until spring again. 

I am told one of the little scrubs will whip and drive 
clear away any large well bred stallion. I was also told 
that strange mares, lotted one night with the little scrub 
are so subjugated and instructed in the law of wild horses 
that she dare not desert his band, under penalty of being 
severely whipped by him, as the king. In this way cheap 
horses are raised on the range, south and west, at almost no 
expense, but are also almost worthless, except as herding 
ponies; are born wild, live wild, die wild and are danger- 
ous to handle- are not worth the cheap grass they eat. If 
Congress did not have its hands full now, I think war 
should be declared against all such scrub ranch ponies and 
the wolves and coyotes, of our western grazing lands, by 
killing the meanest ponies first, and sprinkle strychnine 
on the flesh and call the wolves all up to dine and die, and 
so on, until such destruction would stop for want of ma- 

— 64 — 



terial to destroy, and let lambs and wool grow on the grass 
now wasted to feed worthless scrub ponies. 

DOGS 

Why castrate and spay dogs, as a rule, and breed the 
best; but cut and spay the scrubs? 

I St. Because they kill sheep and chickens, and some- 
times people. 

2d. Because they are frequently a nasty, noisy, nuis- 
ance. 

3d. Because that would improve the breeds greatly; 
rid the country of scrubs and cur dogs and diminish hydro- 
phobia. 

4th. Because it would diminish the dog tax greatly. 

Then how would we get dogs after the old cut ones die? 

As water seeks its level so would demand be supplied, 
and that of pure breeds in due time, and profitably. If dogs 
became scarce, dog farms, as now exist in Maine, would 
start up, with such breeds as demands called for, only. 

I don't know, but the state legislatures would know how 
to charge a large license on breeders; nothing on cut and 
spayed ones, or pups under three months old. The breed- 
ers would all spay or castrate pups then., before sale, with 
but little trouble. Like farmers formerly did cut and spay 
all pigs for pork fifty years ago^ and just as easy, when they 
know how to do it. 

Who would go to all that trouble? 

I think plenty of men would make a business of it. As 
soon as the law said: Ciit and spay, or kill all dogs, or pay 
a breeder' s license, men, I think, wanting work, would cut 
dogs for twenty-five cents or spay bitches for fifty cents, 
and would be glad to look after all such jobs and would 

— 65 — 



report delinquents, liable for breeder's fees, until not one 
was left but breeding dogs and bitches, and cut ones. The 
breeders to be kept in at home as stock are. 

Who would this benefit? I think, any town, county or 
state. "How?" Like anything first-class is better than 
second-class. 

Shepherd dogs in Scotland are first-class and instinc- 
tively take to helping with stock. A well-bred rat terrier 
will work at his calling when other dogs sleep, and .so on. 
All kinds are needed, but demand for cut or spayed pups 
of the various breeds will regulate itself; fox hounds will 
be bought for their work as pointers for birds, but all well- 
bred and naturally true to their trades. 

What are the dogs you speak of worth? 

I have heard of sales from $10.00 up to $500.00, but 
have seen many that $50.00 would not buy; should sell as 
high as cattle do, if bred to perfection in their breed. 

What would a man take for a spajed bitch that his 
children loved, that would plainly tell him of a thief in his 
house at night, and that you could depend on to bark if the 
house was on fire, or would swim in the water and save 
your child? Many well-bred dogs do such things, but if 
not castrated or spayed they are naturally too nasty. 

"How" does castration change their nature? If done 
when young it stops the growth of sexual organs, and of 
their licking them to keep clean. It stops the male dog 
also from sprinkling articles of food and clothing when he 
smells that some other dog has sprinkled there before him. 

Wm. Whitely, of London, said to have the largest store 
in the world, had hitch racks for dogs near each door, with 
plain posters saying: "Dogs not admitted." For he knew 

— 66 — 



these nasty sprinklers would damage much goods bj' stains 
in his store. But worse still: A gentleman in London told 
me he saw a nice looking lady leading a pet poodle on a 
main street, five or six squares from her home; she stopped 
a moment to look in a show window; when she started to 
walk on, her little Dolly could not lead — a larger dog was' 
trying to pull the other way, and you can imagine her mor- 
tification in a crowded street. Probably $100.00 would not 
have been thought of as the worth of Dolly. To let go 
was to loose Dolly and a $20.00 chain and collar, besides, 
when fifty cents spaying would have saved all this shame 
and made Dolly a canine lady pet, for ladies and little child- 
ren to pl-^y with on all occasions. 

I practice what I preach. My dogs for the past twenty 
years have been spayed bitches, are clean and nice, never 
go off, don't smell doggy, don't want to play with common 
dogs, would prefer children's company. There are more 
spayed bitches in this county than in any five counties in 
the state. Try it and you will keep no others hereafter, 
unless you should get part of your farm fenced with high 
woven wire, and try to raise about five hundred pups a year 
of the royal stock with long pedigiess. I have heard that 
a box of monkeys was a funny lot, but I think fifty two- 
months-old pups, in a pound, would be more interesting to 
me, especially if some gifted trainer had them broke to 
work in their line, as trainers break colts to do, or go in 
their line of pacing, racing or to light harness. I mean the 
best, first, last and all the time. The world buys our horses 
and cattle why not induce them to buy our dogs. All 
Englishmen like dogs, even Queen Victoria raises dogs and 
feeds them well; as regularly as we feed horses. The 

— 67 — 



Queen's kennel is noted abroad for fine dogs. 

Again, dogs and bitches, castrated, do not have an appe- 
tite for sexuality, therefore do not complain for dog com- 
pany and howl and bark as those with the old nature, and 
get in some kind of mischief in the night when people want 
to sleep. Again, worthless dogs are worthless, why allow 
them to accumulate? They are like weeds in the garden; 
consumers of what vegetables need and not liked or used by 
anybody, but liable to spread hydrophia and kill you or 
your stock. 

Lastly. I have seen blood hounds used to track up 
thieves, and believe that each county sheriff should keep 
two or three well-bred blood hounds that would follow up 
any robber or thief from your house, and land him where 
his steps stop, and there find both goods and robber and 
stop much out-lawry, in fear of the sheriff's dogs. 

FOR PASTIME 

If you do not object to reading of some of my travels 
and trials. I will try to tell you a true account of my first 
trip to England as a farmer and citizen of Illinois: 

I got an invitation from a noted Veterinary Surgeon, of 
London, to visit him in 1S77. I felt somewhat flattered to 
go so far as a castrator and said yes. The Russian and 
Turkish war prevented me from meeting the gentleman, 
Geo. Fleming, for he was needed in that war with the 
Queen's life guard horses. But, one year later, October 
1878, friends in New York City urged me to go. I boarded 
a steamer with my board paid across, but instead of getting 
fat I lost all of my fullness, and for nine days a sicker child 
you never saw, but landed at Liverpool alive and thanked 
the Lord that it was no worse than it was. I soon got the 

— 68 — 



cars and in ten hours reached the Langham Hotel, London. 
I took a good room, and took a bath, and in that bath I 
took a chill. I rang the bell, the waiter came, my jaws 
seemed locked but I said, "A glass of Bourbon." Some- 
thing was brought and swallowed; in time the fire burned 
in my room, and the spirits got in its work going through 
my empty stomache clear down to my toes. I next called 
for the dining room; between table d'hote and table feed, I 
got my fill and the next day called and paid my bill and 
found it took just $6.00 to eat one day when hungry. I 
had a letter of introduction to my man and took a nice cab 
and spent the day looking over London for him. I had the 
wrong numbers by ten too much on the right street. I at 
last found his office and heard that he had been married two 
days and was in Scotland, to be home in a month. I soon 
found a hotel near his office. Among strangers. Was I 
lonesome? I should say so. What to do I did not know. 
What would you have done? I did nothing for a week. 
Why? Because I could get nothing to try to do, and I al- 
ways since that pity a foreigner. 

Hurriedly, as I left New York City, the editor of Wilks 
Spirit of the Times handed me a letter of introduction to 
Mr. Geo. Fleming, also a V. S. editor. In Mr. Fleming's 
absence in Scotland I sent this introduction to him in my 
letter. 

Friend, I want to ask you a question right now, just for 
pastime: What would you think the editor of the largest 
horse paper in New York City would say to the editor of 
the largest Veterinary Journal in London, Eng., as an intro- 
duction for a free-born American, as a specialist? The let- 
ter was not sealed and I read it and came very near tossing 

— 69 — 



it in the ocean. Guess again. No, he did not say that. 
Guess again. 

Mr. Geo. Fleming, Esq. — Let me introduce to you 
Mr. Farmer Miles, an honest man. Any favor you may 
show him will be appreciated by me. 

Most respectfully, Geo. E. Buck. 

I mailed that, the only written introduction I ever had 
except one no better in London, in my letter to Scotland, 
and soon found he received it by a reply. 

All Londoners seemed strangers to me, and as I thought, 
wished me to be a stranger to them or leave there. 

I felt lonesome of course in not meeting Mr. Fleming, 
and getting him to say in his Veterinary Journal that I was 
visiting him, and friends wishing my services would please 
call on him at once. So to pass my lonesome hours away 
I wrote six pages of foolscap, took it to a printer and had 
2500 printed and mailed to the Veterinarians of England, 
Ireland and Scotland and some in France. The next morn- 
ing my landlord said to me, "A gentleman in a cab, at the 
door, asks for you." I walked out to him. He said, "My 
name is Pritchard, I stop at the Veterinary College," and 
further said: "I got a card from you last evening; no I 
mean a circular, with your address. I am anxious to make 
your acquaintance and have come by to see if you wont eat 
dinner with me some day. Will you, please." I answered 
promptly, yes sir, if you have more to eat than you can eat 
and want help I will help you. He next asked what day I 
could come. I said any time. "Could you come to day?" 
I said yes sir and asked the hour he dined, he replied "From 
half-past six to seven." I said Oh! Oh! I don't know 
that I can wait that long for dinner. His horse was restless 

— 70 — 



and fretting to go and we parted. At 6:30 p.m., I stood at 
his front gate. His house was a large brick on a hill; his 
yard fence was a heavy brick wall about sixteen feet high, 
in that wall was a heavy door or gate, by which, on a plate 
of brass was written plainly ) se\<vants I" ^ bell knob opposite 
each. I pulled the knob for visitors; the door opened and 
a servant faced me. I asked, is this where Mr. Pritchard 
lives? With an emphasis he replied, "This is where Prof. 
Pritchard lives." I told the servant I did not know about 
the 'Prof.' but was invited to dine with him. I was shown 
into the library to await Mr. Pritchard's arrival. Fifteen 
minutes later when the door opened in walked the gentle- 
man and took me by the right hand cordially, and with his 
left hand grasped my wrist and said, "Farmer Miles, I am 
glad to make your acquaintance indeed, take a .seat." I 
did so, and looking around his large library said, Mr. Pritch- 
ard this is a large house you have; how much of a family 
have you? "I will show you" he said, and stepped out and 
.soon returned with his pretty lovely wife, saying, "Mr. 
Miles, Mrs. Pritchard" and I took her by the right hand 
and caught her wrist and said, I was so very glad to shake 
hands with a lady once more, saying I had left home and 
family two months ago and had been with strangers ever 
since. Then Tony a little skye terrier was presented and 
the Professor said "They are all of my family." I replied, 
not numerous Professor, but lovely as far as they go. 

Dinner was waiting and I was invited to the dining room 
and seated to a large table full of meats, vegetables and 
other good things, lacking cake and pies only. While the 
Professor carved the roast pheasant and a quarter of lamb 
and put on my large plate more than I ever ate in one 

— 71 — 



day, two nice looking white men as waiters, with white 
aprons and white caps on, attended us, the first placing my 
bountiful plate before me The second waiter placed three 
wine glasses and a goblet before me, and filled my goblet 
out of a bottle; it looked like water. He then did Mr. and 
Mrs. Pritchard's likewise. In that time I had tasted from my 
goblet and found it sweet and delightful and drank half of 
it, the waiter at once returned and filled it again. I was 
so delighted with the company of Mrs. Pritchard and not 
thinking nearly emptied my goblet the second time. When 
the waiter returned to refill it I put my hand on his arm and 
said, hold on Mister, I don't know what this is; perhaps I 
have enough. I held him away but he stood there until I 
took my hand from his arm, then refilled it, full. After as 
pleasant a dinner as I ever had, we retired to the sitting or 
family room and their questions kept me talking all the 
time. I looked at my watch and was so surprised that I 
asked Professor Pritchard, what time is it please? 'Oh it 
is early yet." I said I did not ask you that, what time is 
it please? "Eleven, only," he said Will you please give 
me my hat and cane? "Oh it is early yet" said he. Yes 
sir, but I make it a rule not to talk people to death the first 
visit, and would not sit down. 1 got my hat and cane and 
bid them good night, and started to walk about a mile, I 
now think I was entirely sober, but if some of those lamp 
posts I passed could have spoken, that we would have had 
an argument right there. 

I got to my hotel nicely; slept well and felt happy that 
I had found such nice friends; my lonesome blues had taken 
wings and gone. At breakfast my landlord handed me a 
letter; I opened it and read: "Farmer Miles, dear friend — 

— 72 — 



I have just met my most intimate friend; he is ver}^ anxious 
to meet 3'ou. Won't you please dine with me today and 
meet him? I took that letter to my room and in answer 
said: Prof. Pritchard, yours of this a. m. at hand. As long 
as the grub is as good as it was last night you can depend 
on my company at any time. 

I rang the same bell at 6:30 and was taken to the family 
room and enjoyed Mrs. Pritchard's company for half an 
hour, when I was introduced to Dr. T. W. Talbott, one of 
London's best veterinarys. 

These two gentlemen were to me as brothers from then 
'till now. Friends in need are friends in deed; I then 
understood. 

Prof. Wm. Pritchard, head of the great Veterinary Col- 
lege in London, took me four different days out in the 
country; one time about eighty miles and introduced me and 
saw me operate. He had over two hundred students in the 
college. Prof. Pritchard always paid the bills at all times 
and exacted the strangest favor of me you could think of. 
If you are not tired I will tell all about it: These 2500 cir- 
culars I sent to all Veterinarys and some Lords were offen- 
sive there; many said, "The worst Yankee, the biggest fool 

and the liar of them all is in London now, pretending 

to cut ridgling horses; it never was done and how can he, 
a farmer, be so smart?" I think it was our third day out 
and eighty miles away; Prof. Pritchard introduced me to 
ten rich veterinary gentlemen. Quite a lot of others col- 
lected to see this American Farmer handle five large ridg- 
ling horses; one seed only could be seen or felt. I soon got 
to work and did two nicely at $25.00 each. I then said, 
come gentlemen this is not fair, I am a cripple and this is 

— 73 — 



hard work; I will give either one of you $25.00 to do the 
third one while I rest; take my rope and knife and go 
ahead. Prof. Pritchard saw the point, turned his back on 
me and ha hawed out loud. He then said to Mr. Brown, 
V. S., one of the ten invited friends of his: "Brown, 3'ou 
never made five pc unds in five minutes in your life; do one 
and rest the gentleman." Mr. Brown replied, "I believe 
not now Professor," and they all ha hawed. I acted aston- 
ished and said, this is the strangest crowd I ever saw; that 
none of 5'ou want any money. If you will go to America 
and offer any Yankee $25.00 for a nut out of a horse like 
one of these, I think in ten minutes he would show you the 
seed or paw a bushel of guts out of the horse. But instead 
of hearty ha ha's the music now was screams and howls and 
sitting down on the dirty ground in mirth. 

I called the groom with the the third horse, saying, come 
on, they won't help us, lets go on and get done. And I did 
the third, fourth and fifth ridgling. These doctors had the 
time and agreed on one hour and six minutes. While col- 
lecting my ropes and instruments Prof. Pritchard was col- 
lecting my pay and handed me $125 00, which he called 
twenty-five pounds. We washed some at the barn and 
went to the house and re-washed and took some wine. I 
talked much more than my share to answer questions. 
After a splendid dinner and drinks of more kinds than I had 
ever seen on a table, with two hours more talk and our train 
coming, these ten veterinary 's thanked me for the most 
pleasant da}' they had spent in a year, and all said, "I will 
collect business at my place for you, and want you to come 
the day before and spend the night with me." I said to all 
I will be much pleased to visit you at any time, when $100 

— 74 — 



follows it. 

When on the cars tor London that day' Prof. Pritchard 
asked that strange favor of me; he said, "I want to ask a 
favor of you." I said, anything in my power Professor is 
granted, what is it? He said, "Promise me when you are 
surrounded by Veterinary 's in England like you were today 
and have ridgling horses to cut, that you will not get done 
before you stop, and offer any of them ^"5 to do one." And 
because of that promise I made the offer all over England, 
Ireland and Scotland, but never found a man that wanted 
any money on such terms. But I heard much laughing 
over it, &c, &c, &c. 

QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS 

Q. Why do some colts swell more than others, all cut 
at the same time and way? 

A. (The serum) or drip cannot get out and the parts 
fill up with bloody water, for some men cut a four-inch 
gash well forward on one side and only a two-inch gash 
well back on the other side; the two-inch cut, far back, will 
shut first and swell most every time. 

For example, two plain cases: I cut a nice two-year-old 
colt for Capt. A. Hulse, East Nantucket, N. Y. I made 
both cuts alike four inches long, well forward; put my 
chain ov^er both seeds at once; lifted both seeds side by side 
three inches up with colt on his back. I had plenty of time 
and good help. I took both seeds off at once, side by side. 
Five days later I happened to pass there and saw that colt 
he was swelled badly on one side and not any at all on the 
other side. Because the Captain thought as I took both off 
at once, I took both out of one gash. He was instructed to 
open that colt twice a day three inches up for five days. He 



did one side that way but the other side was not opened at 
all, but was grown up tight and swelled badly. The other 
side had no swelling at all. Remember this was five days' 
neglect on one side. 

Now let me tell you of a one day's error: I was called 
by both letter and telegram, from New York, to come to 
Babylon, L. I., to alter a colt that Dr. Clock, V. S., tried to 
alter and found two cords in the groin, but no seed. A 
fine colt in a bad fix. 

That was the worst swelled yearling in one day's time 
I ever saw. Please notice particularly; Dr. Clock is a good 
veterinary and a nice gentleman, but was not in practice 
castrating, and cut five inches further back than I would; 
then he failed to recognize the testicles that he held in his 
hand all the time in the cords, as he called them, and felt 
and gouged around in the colt's groin one hour and ten min- 
utes, so good witnesses told me when I cut the same colt 
twenty-four hours later. Swelled as large as a gallon jug; 
stiff and sore. Dr. Clock soon found the tunics, but failed 
to recognize the undeveloped testicles from his cuts, so far 
back. He held the testicles, tunic and all in his hand, 
pulling and squeezing them and the colt struggling one 
hour and ten minutes and gave it up. 

I tied that stiff colt; pushed him over gently; turned 
him on his back, saw the seeds, and tunic not split, all red 
and inflamed, and two pockets of serum near the end of the 
sheath. I first split his gashes, from the front end on for- 
ward about five inches, put my ecraseur on both testicles, 
striffin (tunic) and all, and gently lifted up three or four 
inches, and bit both off. If Dr. Clock had have cut as 
much in front of the testicles on the sheath, as he did be- 

— 76 — 



hind the testicles there would have been no swelling, for 
the drip would have dropped out, but he had two deep pock- 
ets in the sheath and felt all up and in the groin, and all 
lacerated parts shed blood or serum or both, to be caught 
in the sheath pockets and soak through the tissues as water 
soaks in a sponge. 

Q. Does everybody open colts? 

A. No; but that is best for both colt and owner. 

Q. Why open cut colts or stallions twice a day for five 
days when j^ou see they do drip right along? 

A. To commence the first two or three hours after and 
slip two fingers up full length and open them well does not 
hurt the colt then, and lets out all accumulation of serum; 
to repeat that twice a day hurts but little and you are sure 
to have no swelling. But let it alone while the drip comes 
for four or five days, then try, and you hurt the colt in 
tearing open the adhesions; you are too late to stop swell- 
ing, for the serum has lost its outlet and has spread out in 
the sheath. It is too late to get the swelling to drip out 
after it gets hard and hot, and feverish. Nature's way is to 
make the parts hot and cook this serum down to pus (as we 
boil maple sap down to syrup); it comes to a head like a 
boil and breaks and runs out as pus. We want to avoid all 
that pain and fever to the horse; it is easy to do and more 
than pays for all trouble. Anticeptics are good in opera- 
tions but I think to keep wounds open until the drip stops 
is the the best way — lor about five days. 

Q. How long does it take for colts to get sound and 
well after castration. 

A. Any and all colts and stallions, opened properly, 
should be entirely well in ten days. 

— 77 — 




MUXES' STRING ECRASEUR FOR CASTRATING (different sizes) 




SPAYIXC, ECRASEUK 



Q. Do you like the ecraseiir 
best? 

A. I like that principle the 
best— a crush ofF. But I make 
and sell for fifty cents each, a 
string and ring ecraseur that 
works like a charm. Farmers 
need no other ecraseur to cas- 
trate colts, stallions, rams, old 
bulls, or to crush any artery with 
once or twice one-half inch apart, 
then cut off with knife or scis- 
sors still nearer the seed. 

Nothing else does better work 
and costs so little as this string 
ecraseur, but Veterinarys like 
more show of costly instruments. 

Q. What else does a man 
need to cut his own colts with, 
your way? 

A. I think two or three or 
more neighbors, between them, 
should have a good set of my 

Ropes and Hobbles $5 00 

One String Ecraseur 50 

One long Spaying Needle, i 00 
One Hook Knife (at least) i 50 
My book to tell how to work 2 00 

$10 CO 

And have the ropes conven- 
ient in case you want to cast a 
— 79 — 



horse or cow with a nail or snag to take out, or to cast and 
gentle any wild colt with and break it without getting hurt, 
and make that wild colt safer all its life. To be cast easily, 
tied properly, rolled over and over and perfectly conquered 
at first is the best. 

I handle all wild horses best by casting them and re- 
casting and sitting en them with robes or blankets and get 
the fear all out of them. 

My ropes are the thing to cast a cow or mare with in dif- 
ficult labor; turn them on their backs well tied and push 
the calf or colt forward to get room; to get the head or legs 
in position and no one get hurt. Many times such ropes 
are badly needed if bowels are snagged and out; to cast a 
large bull, or spay cows and heifers; to cut a wart off of a 
kicking horse or cow. Casting them is the best way, when 
it can be done so easily and safely, as this book plainly tells 
you how to do it. 

$10.00 is very little money for what may save you $100 
a year, and still be worth ten times their cost annually. 
Five men can pay $2.00 each and save all costs the first 
year and do safer and better work than you can hire it done. 
Do it yourselves, 

Q. If a man wants to see this fellow that does all this 
talking do the work, how can we see him? 

A. Only get him five or six bad ridglings to cut, near 
you, and write him. 

vStatistics of Agriculture for 1892 tell us that the United 
States had 

15,498, 140 Horses, at $65.01 each $10,^75,936.36 

2,314,699 Mules at $75.55 each 1,748,820.70 

16,416,351 Milch Cows, at $21.40 each 3,513,781.32 

— 80 — 



37,651,239 Oxen and other Cattle, at $15.15. 5,707,491.55 
44 958,365 Sheep at $2 5S each 1,161,21.7.90 

Let us fi^nie a little on our hor.ses and losses. 

I am confident one in e\ery twenty head has to be cas- 
trated aniuially or 774,907 in number, and that six per 
cent (b}^ the old) methods die, entailing an animal loss of 
over three million dollars, taking the value at $65.00 each, 
as estimated in government statistics. I am sure by m}' 
improved method.s that one half of that lo.ss can or vi'ould 
be avoided annually and better methods adopted all over the 
coimtry, for all time to come. 

O. Suppose I buy your book and ropes and cannot do 
good work. 

A. Anybody, anywhere, can get a visit from me, or 
cue of my pupils, at his home by talking up a lot of such 
work as he thinks he cannot do himself. When we do it he 
will see it, and talk it, and help to work; then, if he cannot 
he had better sell the book at cost and quit trying. 

Q. What do you sell besides the book? 

A. Everything required and shown in this book .such 
as I u.se and my pupils ask for. 

I have castrated and spayed stock almo.st all over this 
country and know that most of the work is done poorly, by 
men who never did know how to do good work. 

I know many men like Dr. Clock that don't know how, 
and should not try, until they do know more in this line. I 
know their work for I have to cut what they fail on; that 
tells me what they don't know. 



81 — 



TO THE PURCH?SSER 



Dkar Sir — Your book will show, and tell you plainly, 
the ropes and instruments I use and like best. But it may 
not be convenient for you to buy such things at your home. 
Or you may not have leisure time to put your ropes to- 
gether as well as we do it; for we make them here to sell to 
our pupils, at the following prices: 

I set Farmer Miles' Castrating Ropes, con- 
sisting of 

I Back Rope i6 ft. long S/g in. best cotton 
I Circingle '8 " f's ' 

1 Chin Rope lo " J^ ' 

2 Knee Ropes 7 " >^ ' " 

I Nose Twitch, wood, flax thread filling 

4 Hobbles of Flax Thread . . . $ 5 00 

Farmer Miles' Ecraseur, metal . . 15 00 

Farmer Miles' Best String Ecraseur, for all 

Farmer's Castration .... 50 

Farmer Miles' Four-Bladed Castrating and 

Spaying Knife, two Hooks . . . 5 00 

Farmer Miles' One-Bladed Hook Castrating 

and Spaying Knife . . . . i 50 

Farmer Miles' Long Curved Spaying Scissors 6 00 

Farmer Miles' Spaying Needle (curved) six 

inches long, this is the best Needle known i 00 

Farmer Miles' Spreaders for Ridgling's Legs 5 00 

Sixty-five feet five-eights inch Best Cotton 
Rope, with Double Snaps and Links, for 
Ridglings work only, . . . . 4 00 

— 82 — 



I send you this list, not that I am a merchant, and want 
your trade, but just to help you along right, if you should 
need my help. 

Again, I say, if you would rather buy than make your 
own outfit, or part of it, look over these articles and select 
what you need, and name them separately, and the prices 
to each, and then all, and send me pay for them in P. O. 
order or registered letter, and be plain in your name, town 
and county, and you will get the goods promptly, unless we 
are out and have to wait a few days to have them made; but 
I will try to keep a supply on hand all the time. 

Yours truly, 

FARMER MILES. 
Charleston, Coles County, Ills. 




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